If you're viewing the property for the first time, big things to look for include, issues with the roof, sinking/sloping floor subboards, exterior and interior structural cracks, sitting water near the foundation, age/life expectancy of the water heater, furnace, and hvac system; large trees/branches near the property, any electrical issues or wires that aren't sefely secured, and the list goes on.

This is key, if they miss a sagging floor, foundation cracks, roots growing under the driveway, it will eat up your budget quick.

Also be willing to give up your bedroom for the couch or garage or tiny office...or a travel trailer in the drive for extra income.Don't let a webinar set your investment parameters.....set them for yourself....and what you can live with.

@Jeremy Melloul  assuming any future outcome that you cannot control is essentially speculation--which is usually a bad idea (unless your speculation is just a tiny fraction of your net worth, and you can afford to be completely wrong).

@Gurjot Grewal whether it's worth flying down I think depends partly on your situation (including your net worth, how many other properties you have, what your other obligations are, how much this Columbus property could hurt your net worth if things turned south, etc.).For instance, it's not worth it for Warren Buffet to fly out to a city to look at a $350k single family home before purchase because even if that property is a total disaster, it's just a tiny portion of his net worth...plus, he has much more valuable things to do with his time... 

Also, it was obvious the buyer’s agent had the inspector nitpick on every little thing (e.g. 3 hairline settlement foundation cracks which from my understanding is common on most homes but he is asking if he can have a company certify the foundation, calling out no insulation in the attic when there is a cover above the door, asking for co2 sensors to be added when there’s not even gas appliances or attached garage, etc.).

Depending on how much it is off by, windows may crack, doors may no longer close, more sheetrock may crack, etc etc etc

No one.And why squares, nails make tiny round dot holes.I would not have charged them for the nail dot holes, but I would have for this.Never let renters perform labor on your rentals, or scheduled "handymen" to do it either--because it's always a crap shoot as to quality.It looks like they took tiny holes and made them into huge splotches, and put the unit into a needs paint category before re-rent.Their attempt at painting has resulted in more (expensive) damage to the unit.It even looks like a different sheen.Good Luck!

For the last 15-20 years banks had no reason to crack down on this.

It is not all that is cracked up to be.